Here are my top 20. (OK, the order is not totally random, but it is slightly off the cuff, so not intended to be definitive. And I limited this to one song per artist, so I could list more people.) I was very happy with the sounds that were eminating from my iPod and my stereo this year.

1. "The Rat" by The Walkmen

2. "We Don't Care" by Kanye West

3. "First of the Gang to Die" by Morrissey

4. "Michael" by Franz Ferdinand

5. "Nowhere Again" by Secret Machines

6. "She Will Only Bring You Happiness" by McClusky

7. "Van Lear Rose" by Loretta Lynn

8. "Evil" by Interpol

9. "Toxic" by Britney Spears

10. "Miracle Drug" by U2

11. "Breathe" by Fabolous

12. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day

13. "Yeah!" by Usher, with Ludacris and Lil' John

14. "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams

15. "Can't Stand Me Now" by The Libertines

16. "C'mon C'mon" by The Von Bondies

17. "Stumblin'" by Powderfinger

18. "Gone Under Sea" by Electrelane

19. "How Come" by D12

20. "Vegetables" by Brian Wilson

Name your favorite tracks from last year